Illuminated sign.



Patented May 2l, IQUI.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

[Application filed Jan. 21, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

TH: Nonms #Kriss co, wom-Limo, WASHINGTON, u. c4

No. 674,799. Patented May 2|, |901; F. E. SMITH &. F. C. WATSON.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

(Application lsd Jan. 21, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (Nc Model.)

TT m.

llrinp STATES Ainnrr Frise.

FRANK E. SMITH AND FRANK Ol WATSON, OF PHLADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,799, dated May 21, 1901. Application filed January 21, 1901. Serial No. 44,077. (No model.)

T0 all whom, t ntcty concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK E. SMITH and FRANK C. WATSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Illuminated Signs, of which the following is a specification.

Our present invention relates to improvements in illuminated signs, and more espeeially to those used in connection with streetcars.

The invention will be best understood upon reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of our improved sign-holder; Fig. 2, a transverse sectional View taken on the line 1 l of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a similar View taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; Figs. 4 and 5, detail views showing the operating and registering handle; Fig. (5, a longitudinal sectional View of a portion of a sign holder, showing a slightly-modified form of construction; Fig. 7, a transverse sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 6, and Fig. S a similar view taken on the line 4 4 of said Fig. V6.

One object of our invention is to provide a simple and at the same time efficient illuminated-sign holder in which the name or sign may be changed and brought to view as desired. I

A further obj ect is to provide means whereby the sign exposed may be indicated to the operator or attendant.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, A denotes a portion of a car-frame, and B a hanger or bracket secured to the car-framing and to which in turn is attached the shell or casing of the sign-holder. Said shell or casing comprises two heads or en ds O C and a sheet-metal body portion D, which extends from head to head, said body portion being provided with an opening at its forward side, through which the signs are exposed to view.

The sign-holder proper is composed of two heads F. E, connected together by strips F, and U-shaped channel members G, there being four of said members employed, thus forming a holder for two signs.

As will be noted upon reference to Fig. 2, the signs are placed upon opposite sides of the holder and converge toward each other, so that while one of the signs (indicated by the letter H) is exposed at the opening in the front of the casing the other sign will be at the back and at the lower or upper part of the shell, as the case may be.

The heads E are slotted, as clearly shown in Figs. l and 2 and also in Fig. 8. To the lower or narrow side of the head E there is attached a handle Lthe handle by preference being placed centrally of the sign-holder proper, as indicated in Fig. l. This handle affords means for rotating the sign-holder when desired and also facilitates the easy handling of said sign-holder when it is necessary to withdraw it from the casing. Means other than this handle are provided for rotating or shifting the sign-holder proper within the shell or casing.

Studs or axles J extend inwardly from the heads O, passing through slots in the heads E of the sign-holder, where theyare embraced by spring-arms K, which serve to normally hold the sign-holder from withdrawal from the casing after it has once been forced to place. The formation of the spring-arms will be best understood upon reference to Fig. 2. They are also shown in Fig. 8. It will be noted that with the construction shown but slight force need be exerted to withdraw the sign-holder proper from the shell or casing; but the springs serve to hold the parts in proper position and against accidental displacement.

Secured to the inner face of one of the heads C-that at the right-(shown in Fig. l) is a guide L, in which works a pin or stud M, projecting from an elbow-lever N. Said lever, as will be noted upon reference to Fig. 3, is slotted and is mounted upon the stud or axle J, which acts as its fulcrum. The short arm of said lever N has attached toit an inwardlyextending tube or hollow post O, which at its inner end carries a lamp P. Said lamp is provided with a shield or reflector Q, which is so positioned that the rays of light emanating from the lamp are prevented from passing directly through the sign at the forward end of the casing, but are thrown back into IOO the sign-holder and thence reflected or diffused, thereby causing an even illumination. Said stem or post O passes through the slot formed in the head E, (see Fig. 2,) so that any motion imparted to the lever N must ofv f R extends through an opening formed in the hanger or fitting B and is connected to an operating-handle U. In said handle is journaled a name barrel or indicator V, which is slotted longitudinally and designed to receive cards or indices W, corresponding with the signs or name-plates carried by the signholder. A gear or star wheel X is rigidlyaffixed to the spindle of the barrel V and rotated with said barrel. A spring Y, bearing upon the star-wheel, normally holds the barrel against rotation. An arm Z is rigidly affixed to the car-framing in line with the handle, said arm being provided with projections or teeth a, which as the handle is drawn out to eii'ect a change of position of the signs engages the star-wheel and causes a rotation of the barrel, thereby bringing to view the index or card corresponding with the name or sign exposed. Upon a return movement of the handle, which will effect a different position of the holder, and consequently a change of sign, the barrel or index will. be rotated back, so that its position will be changed in accordance with the sign being exposed. A plate C is preferably placed over the working portions of the operating means, as indicated in Fig. l. A bracket or support E', similar in contour and shape to the heads E, may be placed at a convenient point in the length of the sign-holder to form a support for the stem or post O, which carries the lamp.

It will be noted that in the construction Shown in Figs. l to 5 the operating-lever moves in a line at approximately right angles to the opening in the shell or casing. In Figs. 6 to 8 the operating-lever stands in a vertical position or in a position where it Will pass down through the hood or roof extending over the platform of the car, or the lever might pass down into the main body of the car through the roof thereof. In such latter constructions it is essential to have but a short throw or movement of the operatingslide, and to this end an additional lever is employed. The construction of the signholder and the shell cr casing is the same in these as in the other views and need not be further described. The slide b passes up through an opening formed in the hanger or bracket and works in a vertically-disposed guide or channel c, formed in the head of the shell or casing. Said slide is provided with a, pin which Works in a slot d in the lever e, the stem or axle .I of the head also passing through said slot (Z. The lever e is provided at its inner end with a stud or postf, which works in a slotted guide g, similar to the guide employed in the construction above described. The opposite end of said lever e is provided with a stud or post h, which in turn works in the slotted end of a bell-crank lever t', which is fulcrumed on the stem or post J. The opposite end of said bell-crank lever t' carries the hollow tube or post O, into which the conducting-wires are passed. The stem or post O carries a socket O2, into which a plug O3 is inserted, the plug being connected by wires to a lamp O4, supported by a suitable braeket O5. The construction is the same as that of Figs. l to 5|, with the exception of the interposition of the lever e, which in effect gives a greater range of movement to the sign-holder, with a relatively shorter movement of the actuating handle or slide b. A bracketj is employed in this instance to aiford proper support for the stud or post.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the sign-holder proper may be removed froin the shell or casing whenever desired. It is also to be noted that the position of the holder may be shifted by movement of the handle'and that the sign exposed will be indicated to the operator.

With the construction shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3 the lamp remains in the shell or casing, whereas in Fig. 6 the lamp is removed with the sign-holder, the connection between the sign-holder and the shell or casing being completed through the socket O2 and the plug O3.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In combination with ashell or casing having an opening formed therein, stems or posts rextending inwardly from each end thereof; a

removable sign-holder; means carried bysaid holder for embracing said stems and normally holding the holderin position and permitting ready removal thereof from the casing; and means operative from without the shell or casing for changing the position of the signholder within the shell or casing, to bring one or another of the signs carried by said holder in line with the opening.

2. In combination with a shell or casinghaving an opening formed therein, stems or posts extending inwardly from each end of the casing and rigidly affixed thereto; a removable sign holder revolubly mounted upon said stems; and means operative from without the shell or casing for changing the position of the holder and bringing one or another of the signs to position in line With the opening in the shell or casing.

3. In combination with a shell or casing having an opening through which to display a sign, stems or axles carried by said casing and extending inwardly from the end thereof; a rotatable sign-holder having heads slotted to straddle said stems or axles; means for re taining said slotted heads upon said stems or axles; and means for rotating the sign-holder IOO XIO

to bring one or another of the signs carried thereby in line with the opening in the shell Or casing.

4. In combination with ashell or casing provided with longitudinally-arranged stems or axles, a rotatable sign-holder provided with slotted heads to straddle the stems or axles, and with springs adapted to pass over the same and to retain the sign-holder against accidental displacement, but to yield to moderate force and permit the ready removal of the sign-holder when required; and means for rotating the sign-holder when in said casing.

5. In combination with ashell orcasinghaving a sign-exposing opening'formed therein, a sign-holder mounted in said casing and readily removable therefrom through said Opening; means for holding said sign-holder in its position in said casing; and means for shifting the sign-holder to bring one Or anotheroi" the signs carried by said sign-holder toi position in line with the opening in the frame or casing.

6. In combinationwithashell orcasinghaving a sign-exposing opening formed therein; a sign-holder revolubly mounted in said casing and readily removable therefrom through said opening; an operating-slide extending into said casing; connections intermediate said slide and the sign-holder; and a revoluble index carried by and working in conjunction with said slide.

7. In combination with ashell or casing having a sign-exposing opening formed therein; a sign-holderrevolubly mounted in said shell or casing and readily removable therefrom through said Opening; means for impartinga reciprocatory rotary motion tO said signholder; and a revoluble index also working in conjunction with the means for moving the sign-holder, said index denoting the position of the sign in line with the opening in the shell or casing.

8. In combination with a shell or casing, a sign-holder revolubly mounted therein; an

actuating-slide; operative connections intermediate said slide and the holder permitting ready withdrawal of the holder from the shell Or casing; a handle connected to said slide; a rotary index carried by the handle; and means for operating said index.

9. Incombinationwithashellorcasinghaving an opening formed therein; a sign-holder revolubly mounted in said casing and readily removable therefrom; an operating-slide extending into said casing; connections intermediate the slide and the sign-holder for rO- tating said holder as the slide is actuated; a handle connected to said slide; a rotary index carried by said handle; and a fixed arm acting on said index to change its position as the handle and slide are moved to change the position of the sign-holder within the shell or casing.

10. In combination with a shell or casing, having a sign-exposing Opening formed therein; a sign-holder revolubly mounted in said casing and readily removable therefrom through said opening; an operating-slide; lever mechanism connecting said slide and the signholder for imparting rotary motion to said hoider; and an index carried by and working in conjunction with said slide.

il. In combination with a shell or casing having an opening formed therein; a signholder revolubly mounted in said casing and readily removable therefrom; a slide mounted in said shell Orcasing; an elbow-leverconnected to said slide; and a stem or post extending out from the opposite end of the lever and connected tO the sign-holder.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK E. SMITH. FRANK C. WATSON.

Witnesses:

WM. T. BROOKS, HARRISON SOUDER. 

